Your Opinion Please

[Anonymous]

Bergie

As someone who is "in the business" you thoughts here would be welcome. Any of the staffers who would like to comment would also be welcome.

[Anonymous]

Bergie

As someone who is "in the business" you thoughts here would be welcome. Any of the staffers who would like to comment would also be welcome.

[Anonymous]

My opinoin, yes and no. Yes because you have the right and your not disturbing any graves, but no because its a grave yard and you must be respectful. But there where no grave within 40 yd, so you can just not ALL the time. Understand, clear as mud?
[xx(]

[Anonymous]

My opinoin, yes and no. Yes because you have the right and your not disturbing any graves, but no because its a grave yard and you must be respectful. But there where no grave within 40 yd, so you can just not ALL the time. Understand, clear as mud?
[xx(]

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bryan9664

But there where no grave within 40 yd, so you can just not ALL the time. Understand, clear as mud?
[xx(]

????????????

Glad to see that Public Education is paying off for Texas[:D], Four readings and I think I am beginning to understand this sentance[;)]

Sorry Brian, Just joking with you. I was a bit of an English expert in college, I got to proof-read everyone elses papers for the price of a couple Margarita's.[:p]

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bryan9664

But there where no grave within 40 yd, so you can just not ALL the time. Understand, clear as mud?
[xx(]

????????????

Glad to see that Public Education is paying off for Texas[:D], Four readings and I think I am beginning to understand this sentance[;)]

Sorry Brian, Just joking with you. I was a bit of an English expert in college, I got to proof-read everyone elses papers for the price of a couple Margarita's.[:p]

[ironhorseman]

I've got a long responce here so I'll label each section for those of you who just skim answers (like me)[:D][;)][:o)]:

MY OPINION
There is nothing wrong with including cemeteries in train photography or otherwise, whether or not it includes gave markers with or without the inscriptions visible.

Why do I think this way? I'm a very legal minded person. I have my degree in Criminal Justice and I don't see anything illegal about it. Certainly you’ve seen cemeteries the subject of calendars and in movie scenes and TV shows? It's a public place unless posted otherwise. Cemeteries are holy ground and part of the church and everyone is welcome in church. I doubt if you’re using a point and click camera aimed at a moving train that you’ll get a name in the shot, and even if it’s one of those big headstones with just the last name it’s still just that: a last name. As long as you don’t desecrate the cemetery or use the photos of the gravestones in an immoral or degrading manner and obey cemetery rules it should be fine. I think cemeteries make interesting subjects for photos, with or with out trains. It gives the viewer a distraction, it fills the picture up, it gives it character, it makes it unique. I don’t think it was any different 25, 50, or even 150 years ago. People have been photographing cemeteries for as long as there have been cameras. “If you think you found something new, you don’t know your history” -Harry S Truman.

AN EXAMPLE
Photographing headstones is no big deal either. When an uncle of mine past away about 10 years ago my mother and grandmother (his sister) decorated the headstone with flowers and such and took a picture of it. My grandma entered it in a photo exhibit at the county fair and lo and behold it won a ribbon prize. It got a lot of comments and compliments.

...AND A SPOOOOOOKY STORY [;)]
I have a few pictures of trains with a cemetery in the foreground, though I don’t think I’ve got around to posting it on my website yet. All this reminds me of something spooky. Once at a rural cemetery north of my town I was finishing off a role film. This was about eight or nine years ago when I was new to train photography. I had a 110mm camera my grandpa had given me. I was setting up the shot. I framed up the cemetery in the foreground and the tracks in the background. The sun was close to setting, about an hour away, and luckily the hours I had waited that hot summer day were going to pay off. The train was going to come by and the sun was going to hit I perfectly. I had wondered earlier if this was appropriate to take pictures of trains by cemeteries. But I convinced myself to do it because I took pictures of everything at my grandpa’s funeral and even more on the next Memorial Day. But being a kid you kinda get superstitious. Well, I heard the train and put all that out of my mind. Boy was I in for a treat. It was a fast trailer train with a red and silver Santa Fe on the lead, a green Burlington Northern second, and a blue and yellow Santa Fe third (this was before the merger). I snapped it, watched the train, and when it was gone I went home (no more film, no reason to stick around). I kept thinking ‘I wonder if I’ll se a ghost?’ I got home and popped out the film before realizing I hadn’t wound the film! D’OH! I quickly popped it back in and wound it to the end but the damage was already done. When I got my film back from the developer all the pictures came out great except for that last one. Was it coincidence or something more…?

I avoided the cemetery for awhile, but not too long after I defiantly went back and took some more pictures. They’ve all come out fine. I had a cross country coach that once said he doesn’t believe in bad luck and superstition, after everyone kept commenting that day how it was Friday the 13th and bad things will happen. You know, he’s right. I only believe that the only bad luck generated from Friday the 13th is everyone’s preoccupation with the superstition surrounding that day. Hence, I was so preoccupied with the superstition of photographing a cemetery that I let myself forget to wind the film when I was done. It was entirely my fault, nothing supernatural. Unless it was the dreaded boogieman, then it was his fault. [}:)] Now you can either take pictures at cemeteries and not have a guilty conscious or you can let the fear of a boogieman come into your home in the middle of the night and expose all your film. Now… what was that? I thought I heard something behind me. It’s probably nothing so I’m just going to turn my head around and take a look anyway…. AAAAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEE! BOOOGIEMAN! [:0]

[ironhorseman]

I've got a long responce here so I'll label each section for those of you who just skim answers (like me)[:D][;)][:o)]:

MY OPINION
There is nothing wrong with including cemeteries in train photography or otherwise, whether or not it includes gave markers with or without the inscriptions visible.

Why do I think this way? I'm a very legal minded person. I have my degree in Criminal Justice and I don't see anything illegal about it. Certainly you’ve seen cemeteries the subject of calendars and in movie scenes and TV shows? It's a public place unless posted otherwise. Cemeteries are holy ground and part of the church and everyone is welcome in church. I doubt if you’re using a point and click camera aimed at a moving train that you’ll get a name in the shot, and even if it’s one of those big headstones with just the last name it’s still just that: a last name. As long as you don’t desecrate the cemetery or use the photos of the gravestones in an immoral or degrading manner and obey cemetery rules it should be fine. I think cemeteries make interesting subjects for photos, with or with out trains. It gives the viewer a distraction, it fills the picture up, it gives it character, it makes it unique. I don’t think it was any different 25, 50, or even 150 years ago. People have been photographing cemeteries for as long as there have been cameras. “If you think you found something new, you don’t know your history” -Harry S Truman.

AN EXAMPLE
Photographing headstones is no big deal either. When an uncle of mine past away about 10 years ago my mother and grandmother (his sister) decorated the headstone with flowers and such and took a picture of it. My grandma entered it in a photo exhibit at the county fair and lo and behold it won a ribbon prize. It got a lot of comments and compliments.

...AND A SPOOOOOOKY STORY [;)]
I have a few pictures of trains with a cemetery in the foreground, though I don’t think I’ve got around to posting it on my website yet. All this reminds me of something spooky. Once at a rural cemetery north of my town I was finishing off a role film. This was about eight or nine years ago when I was new to train photography. I had a 110mm camera my grandpa had given me. I was setting up the shot. I framed up the cemetery in the foreground and the tracks in the background. The sun was close to setting, about an hour away, and luckily the hours I had waited that hot summer day were going to pay off. The train was going to come by and the sun was going to hit I perfectly. I had wondered earlier if this was appropriate to take pictures of trains by cemeteries. But I convinced myself to do it because I took pictures of everything at my grandpa’s funeral and even more on the next Memorial Day. But being a kid you kinda get superstitious. Well, I heard the train and put all that out of my mind. Boy was I in for a treat. It was a fast trailer train with a red and silver Santa Fe on the lead, a green Burlington Northern second, and a blue and yellow Santa Fe third (this was before the merger). I snapped it, watched the train, and when it was gone I went home (no more film, no reason to stick around). I kept thinking ‘I wonder if I’ll se a ghost?’ I got home and popped out the film before realizing I hadn’t wound the film! D’OH! I quickly popped it back in and wound it to the end but the damage was already done. When I got my film back from the developer all the pictures came out great except for that last one. Was it coincidence or something more…?

I avoided the cemetery for awhile, but not too long after I defiantly went back and took some more pictures. They’ve all come out fine. I had a cross country coach that once said he doesn’t believe in bad luck and superstition, after everyone kept commenting that day how it was Friday the 13th and bad things will happen. You know, he’s right. I only believe that the only bad luck generated from Friday the 13th is everyone’s preoccupation with the superstition surrounding that day. Hence, I was so preoccupied with the superstition of photographing a cemetery that I let myself forget to wind the film when I was done. It was entirely my fault, nothing supernatural. Unless it was the dreaded boogieman, then it was his fault. [}:)] Now you can either take pictures at cemeteries and not have a guilty conscious or you can let the fear of a boogieman come into your home in the middle of the night and expose all your film. Now… what was that? I thought I heard something behind me. It’s probably nothing so I’m just going to turn my head around and take a look anyway…. AAAAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEE! BOOOGIEMAN! [:0]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bryan9664

My opinoin, yes and no. Yes because you have the right and your not disturbing any graves, but no because its a grave yard and you must be respectful. But there where no grave within 40 yd, so you can just not ALL the time. Understand, clear as mud?
[xx(]

Bryan

Today is Tuesday (I bet you really don't need a reminder), E N J O Y. [;)]
Email me after you get a chance to see it all. Let me know what you think.

Also would you clear up the mud a little. I am kinda like vsmith and just not getting it all very well. [8D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bryan9664

My opinoin, yes and no. Yes because you have the right and your not disturbing any graves, but no because its a grave yard and you must be respectful. But there where no grave within 40 yd, so you can just not ALL the time. Understand, clear as mud?
[xx(]

Bryan

Today is Tuesday (I bet you really don't need a reminder), E N J O Y. [;)]
Email me after you get a chance to see it all. Let me know what you think.

Also would you clear up the mud a little. I am kinda like vsmith and just not getting it all very well. [8D]

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Bergie

As someone who is "in the business" you thoughts here would be welcome. Any of the staffers who would like to comment would also be welcome.

I'm not sure where someone who's "in the business" has an opinion on this topic that counts any more than any other enthusiast (or human for that matter). I'll reply... but understand that this is coming from Erik the railfan and should not in any way, shape, or form be considered the official opinion of Trains.com or Trains Magazine.

I'm neutral. I can understand the point of view that cemetaries shouldn't be disturbed. However, I don't think walking through a cemetary, or taking a photo from it is disrespectful. (If a service is going on, you should obviously be respectful.)

Have I personally ever photographed from a cemetary? Possibly. I was in Kansas a few years ago on a railfanning trip with a couple of chums from the office. We parked in the cemetary outside of El Dorado. That cemetary is on a dead end road and sees very little traffic. I remember being trapped by a BNSF train for close to an hour. I can't remember if I actually took any shots from the cemetary (prior to the train parking there). I do remember walking around and looking at the tombstones.

I'd say your personal judgement should drive your decision. I doubt it's against the law. If it makes you uncomforatable or if you feel you shouldn't be doing it, don't. If you're comfortable with what you're doing and do it with all due respect, then so be it. This is more of a moral issue than anything else. I'm sure two people with differing opinions can argue this for days.

Erik

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Bergie

As someone who is "in the business" you thoughts here would be welcome. Any of the staffers who would like to comment would also be welcome.

I'm not sure where someone who's "in the business" has an opinion on this topic that counts any more than any other enthusiast (or human for that matter). I'll reply... but understand that this is coming from Erik the railfan and should not in any way, shape, or form be considered the official opinion of Trains.com or Trains Magazine.

I'm neutral. I can understand the point of view that cemetaries shouldn't be disturbed. However, I don't think walking through a cemetary, or taking a photo from it is disrespectful. (If a service is going on, you should obviously be respectful.)

Have I personally ever photographed from a cemetary? Possibly. I was in Kansas a few years ago on a railfanning trip with a couple of chums from the office. We parked in the cemetary outside of El Dorado. That cemetary is on a dead end road and sees very little traffic. I remember being trapped by a BNSF train for close to an hour. I can't remember if I actually took any shots from the cemetary (prior to the train parking there). I do remember walking around and looking at the tombstones.

I'd say your personal judgement should drive your decision. I doubt it's against the law. If it makes you uncomforatable or if you feel you shouldn't be doing it, don't. If you're comfortable with what you're doing and do it with all due respect, then so be it. This is more of a moral issue than anything else. I'm sure two people with differing opinions can argue this for days.

Erik

[Anonymous]

Thanks Bergie, your comments are appreciated. [:)]

Do you know or can you remember ever printing a cemetery/train pic in the mag? If so, can you email me a copy of it. The one Sask_T talked about sounded interesting but I don't remember seeing it but it was in a book.

Thanks again. [:D]

[Anonymous]

Thanks Bergie, your comments are appreciated. [:)]

Do you know or can you remember ever printing a cemetery/train pic in the mag? If so, can you email me a copy of it. The one Sask_T talked about sounded interesting but I don't remember seeing it but it was in a book.

Thanks again. [:D]

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Thanks Bergie, your comments are appreciated. [:)]

Do you know or can you remember ever printing a cemetery/train pic in the mag? If so, can you email me a copy of it. The one Sask_T talked about sounded interesting but I don't remember seeing it but it was in a book.

Thanks again. [:D]

Check out the July 1999 issue of TRAINS. On page 53 - within the story BNSF's "C&I" Line, is a photo that was taken in a cemetary outside of Lee, IL. You can see a BNSF stack train in the distance with tombstones in the foreground. You can read the names on the tombstones. One has the name STACK on it. Guess what kind of train is in the background? You guessed it... a stack train. Now, the caption for the photo explains that "the photographer swears he never noticed the family surname on the large marker..."

Inappropriate? Again, it's a matter of opinion.

Erik